A new anti-tobacco law that is expected to be issued “soon” will grant judicial powers to some anti-smoking volunteers to detect and report violations of the law, according to a story in The Peninsula quoting an official of Qatar’s Supreme Council of Health (SCH).

The proposed law, which will amend an existing law, will ban smoking in cars, ban the use and sale of chewing tobacco such as sweika and increase fines for tobacco smoking in public places where smoking is banned.

Tariq Salahuddin, head of the legal department at the SCH, provided information about the proposed new law while speaking during an anti-smoking workshop organized by the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs on Sunday.

The workshop was aimed at strengthening the role of imams and preachers in curbing smoking.

Meanwhile, a proposal to set up an association in Qatar for combating tobacco smoking is awaiting approval from the state cabinet, said Dr. Ahmed Mohamed Al Mulla, head of the Smoking Cessation Clinic at the Hamad Medical Corporation.

The story said that about 35 percent of those who had attended the smoking cessation clinic had quit their habit, which is an exceptional success rate.